Four hundred of the eight hundred and ninety passengers who arrived early this morning at the Port of Cadiz aboard the Mein Schiff 2, 45 percent, have disembarked to take excursions around the city and surrounding area, becoming the first cruise passengers to arrive in the province since cruise traffic was interrupted in March 2020 by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The president of the Port Authority of the Bay of Cádiz, Teófila Martínez, accompanied by the delegate of the Government of the Junta de Andalucía in the province of Cádiz, Ana Mestre, and the councilor of Commerce and Tourism of the City Council of Cádiz, Montemayor Mures, has supervised the embarkation and disembarkation operation of passengers and presented a commemorative plaque to the captain of the ship.
Speaking to the media, Teófila Martínez emphasized that the port call was carried out in compliance with strict safety protocols to prevent the spread of the disease, both on board and on land. To this end, the Port Authority President noted, the Andalusian Regional Government approved a health protocol that guarantees the protection of public health and thanks to which it is possible to receive the first cruise ship after 15 months.
In this regard, Martínez also highlighted “the work carried out by the staff of the Port Authority, the port community, the State Security Forces and Corps, among others, so that today we have been able to welcome this ship.”.
As the president explained, the four hundred passengers who disembarked for excursions formed 28 groups, each with a maximum of 20 people. Most opted for bus tours or guided walking tours of the city, although some excursions also went to other locations in the province.
The delegate of the Andalusian Regional Government in Cádiz, Ana Mestre, expressed her satisfaction "at being able to attend this first event to reactivate the Port of Cádiz, because what we are doing here today is precisely celebrating the return of port activity through cruise ships." Ana Mestre emphasized that "Cádiz without its cruise ships is inconceivable.".
According to the top representative of the Andalusian Government in the province, "the Port of Cádiz is an essential infrastructure for the city for its economic reactivation, employment and of course to bring us all hope and optimism in such delicate times as we are experiencing.".
The delegate also praised “the work that has been carried out during all these months with the General Directorate of Public Health, with the Ministry of Health and Families, with the Ports of Cádiz and with the Ports of Andalusia so that Andalusia was the first Autonomous Community to have the protocol available to be able to reactivate cruises in the ports.”.
Likewise, the Councillor for Tourism and Commerce, Montemayor Mures, has stated that “both the sector and the City Council feel very optimistic about the summer and the economic impact that this cruise season, which opens this Tuesday, will have.”.
Mures highlighted “the eagerness of visitors to explore Cádiz and experience the city, as evidenced by the high number of passengers who have chosen to discover its culture and heritage.” He added that “businesses, restaurants, and tourism agencies are more than ready to welcome visitors.”.
